Thursday's weekly kickoff card at Gulfstream Park features a $121,788 carryover in the late pick 5 sequence. On-track handicappers Ron Nicoletti and Brian Nadeau take you through the sequence with their early insights. Race-by-race comments from Nicoletti with Nadeau providing supporting selections, best bet and best longshot plays. Courtesy: Gulfstreampark.com.
RACE 4
#2 LADY CHA CHA moves to the Laura Cazares barn via the claim after returning from a layoff to finish a better than it appears on paper fourth – beaten two noses for second – vs $50,000 starer optional claimers going a mile on the grass. The three-year-old daughter of Vino Rosso should sit a perfect trip behind the speed of some of older horses in the field, which includes #1 BUSY MORNING. The latter moves to the Jorge Abreu barn via the claim for owner Rohan Crichton after stalking early and drawing clear late to defeat $35,000 two lifetime claimers going 7-1/2 furlongs. Luca Panici rides the five-year-old daughter of War Dancer.
RON'S SELECTIONS: 2-1-7
BRIAN'S SELECTIONS: 1-7-6
RACE 5
#2 VAYESTA, who is 3 for 4 in the money on the Tapeta, albeit sprinting, returns to the all-weather surface after facing better going long on the turf. Julie Stormfelt has Edwin Gonzalez managing the surface switch. #5 LUCEVAN LA STELLE is dropping to the $12,500 level and debuting on the Tapeta after pressing the pace and fading to finish seventh vs $25,000 maidens going a mile on the turf. She should be part of the pace if she puts her best effort forward. #1 TIME MISS should be ready to offer more after returning from the layoff to set the pace and finish second at this level and distance. Trainer Ron Spatz has apprentice Jon Rivera playing catch me if you can.
RON'S SELECTIONS: 2-5-1
BRIAN'S SELECTIONS: 2-8-5
BRIAN'S BEST BET ANALYSIS: #2 VAYESTA big two-turn improvement off claim; now tries Tapeta route for first time; well-drawn against very modest field.
RACE 6
#3 SAND DANCER is turning back to a mile and seventy yards after his three-race win streak ended when he was outfinished when third in a $16,000 starter handicap going nine furlongs. Marty Drexler has Edgard Zayas at the controls. #1 GRAND DAVID will try $20,000 open claimers in the first race since taking them gate to wire when defeating $35,000 conditioned claimers going around two turns on the Tapeta during November. Victor Barboza Jr, 22% with this type of layoff, has Emisael Jaramillo going for two in a row. #4 BRINGER OF RAIN must bring more for the stretch drive after finishing second behind Sand Dancer when they knocked heads on March 17. Jose D’Angelo has Miguel Vazquez managing the rematch.
RON'S SELECTIONS: 3-1-4
BRIAN'S SELECTIONS: 5-3-7
BRIAN'S BEST LONGSHOT ANALYSIS: 12-1 ML price as #5 GLIDING ASSET enters in good form off last three; meets a vulnerable favorite; stalker in a field full of early speed.
RACE 7
#6 BONUS MOVE is stepping up to face winners after responding to both the addition of Lasix and the move to the turf with an impressive 6-1/2 length maiden victory. Mark Hennig has Joe Bravo atop the son of Twirling Candy. #2 SPLIT STRIKE, listed as a gelding, the son of Goldencents makes his sophom*ore debut for Christophe Clement the first start since finishing a stalk-the-pace and weaken fifth in the six-furlong Atlantic Beach at Aqueduct in November. Christophe Clement adds Lasix and Paco Lopez to do the riding. #1 APOLLO TEN, another from Christophe Clement, makes his first start since finishing a closing fourth in front of his stablemate in the Atlantic Beach. Emisael Jaramillo rides.
RON'S SELECTIONS: 6-2-1
BRIAN'S SELECTIONS: 6-5-1
RACE 8
#5 ACADEMY CHOICE is hoping to make amends after finishing a head behind repeat winner Mr Narcissistic – as the favorite – at this level. Anthony Thomas rides. #4 LIEUTENANT STAN has his claiming tag cut in half after finishing a worker like third vs $50,000 two-lifetime claimers going five furlongs on the Tapeta. #2 IRON MAN JIMMY, now in the Joe Orseno barn, the gelding debuts locally in the first race since drawing clear to defeat $30,000 maidens going six furlongs on the Turfway Tapeta. Paco Lopez will manage the turnback to 5-1/2 furlongs.
RON'S SELECTIONS: 5-4-2
BRIAN'S SELECTIONS: 5-4-2
